Electric gas lamp



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,278

A. LEDERER ELECTRIC GAS LAMP Filed August 30. 1921 INV ENTOR ANTON l. EDERE'E ATTORN EY seamed; Aug. 17, 1926.

ANTON Lhnnnnn,

F VIENNA, .AlJ'S'JlRI-At, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE LAMP COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

mncrmc GAS LAMP.

Application filed August 30, 1921, Serial No. 497,022, and in Austria September 16, 1918.

wasarshmnn rm raovrsrons' or run nor or :uaacn a, 1921, 41 sum. 2., 1313.

This invention relates to electrical gas lamps, that is to electrical lampsin which liquid electrodes, such as alkaline metals or their alloys, are employed. An object, of the invention is to prevent an electrode of the character indicated flowing from a vessel in which it maybe contained upon disturbance of the lamp either by tilting or overturning.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description.

- In the operation of certain electrical lamps, particularly of the gas type, electrodes have been provided in'the form of 1 liquids.

useful for. that purpose are the alkaline metals or their alloys, especially an alloy of potassium and sodium. Such electrodes are ordinarily contained in suitable vessels 2 in the lamp and by reason of the fact that heretofore no means have been provided to prevent the contents of these vessels from flowing or spilling out when the lamp is inclined or, overturned, the efiiciency and when such accidents occur.

It is the purpose of the present invent-ion toprevent the escape of the electrodes from their containing vessels regardless, of the position the lamp ma occupy or the manner in which it may be handled. Referring to the drawings: Figs. 1 and 2 are elevational views, partly broken away, of conventional types of gas lamps 'to' which applicants invention has been applied; and.

Fig. 3 is arl elevational view, part1 in section, of another conventional type 0 a gas lamp in which both electrodes are made of a phcants invention has been applied.

In the type of lamp illustratedin Fig. 1, a tubular vessel 4 has both its ends closed. Sealed an electrode or anode-5 which maybe connected to a'suitable source of'current by means of a leading-in wire 6. At the other end of the vessel, another electrode or the cathode 7 is usually placed. This electrode in gas lamps, is frequently formed of an alkaline metal, such as potassium and the like, or' an alloy of such metals, especiallyan alloy of potassium and sodlum. The 11 Materials which have been found life of the lamp is considerably impaired li uid material and to 'which also, the ap the electrode material is prevented...

in one of the ends of the vessel is loys are usually in the liquid state. The current is conducted to the electrode 7 by means of a leading-in wire 8.

The type of lamp thus far described is wellknown in the art. An objection which has been found with this construction of lamp is that, unless the lamp is maintained in afixed position, the electrode ,material Wlll overflow or come in contact with the anode and thus short-circuit the lamp. In order to prevent this short-circuiting, the applicant has provided a structure which Wlll prevent the liquid from leaving the container in which it may be placed.

A convenient form of structure which will accomplishthe ends sought may consist Of a perforated lid or cover 9 for each of the vessels or containers employed. The perforations 11in the lid or cover are of such size that the liquid electrode is prevented from flowing therethrough because of the capillary attraction between the liquid electrode and the walls of the openings. In other words, the openings are capillary perforations.

The vessel or container for theelectrode material may be closed on all sides, as illustrated in Fig. '2 at 12, but the side 13 facing the luminous tube, which side may be pro vided with capillary perforations 11. By reason of this location of the perforations with-respect to the luminous tube, it will be observed that the passage of an electrical current through the tube impressed from an outside source. of electrical energy will not be interfered with and the current will be permitted to flow through the perforated cover.

, dproviding a cover -:of the nature describe above, excessive disintegration of In Fig. 3 the lamp may be provided with a U-shaped tube b4 having enlarged ends 15 and 16. These ends may be provided with liquid electrodes 17 and 18 which may be connected, as indicated above, by means of leading-in wires to a suitable source of current. The electrode 17 is disposed in the lower portion of the enlarged end 15 and is provided with a cover'9, supported in any desirable manner and having capillary perforations 11 therein. The "other liquid elecl trode 18 is contained within a re ptacle or v the escape of the electrode material there from, this feature being in accordance with the present invention.

In lamps-of the character described above, it is customary to employ an atmosphere of a rare gas such as neon or the like, a

suitable pressure of such gas being employed.

Many modifications may suggest themselves for securing the desired ends, as for instance, the capillary perforations may assume the nature of a grid juxtaposed to the electrode material.

Such modifications, as coming within the preventing said electrode material from flowing from said container upon inclination 0r overturning of said lamp.

2. In an electric gas lamp having a liquid electrode comprising an alkaline metal, a container for said electrode and a cover therefor having capillary perforations, whereby the electrode material within said container is prevented from flowing therefromupon inversionv or inclination of said lamp.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of August, 1921.

ANTON LEDERER. 

